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DETROIT -- Victor Martinez drove in three runs to help Detroit to a much-needed win, then offered a bit of a plea to Tigers fans who have been losing patience with the AL Central favourites. "Its not fair when people out there are thinking that weve got to win this division by 10, 15, 20 games," Martinez said. "Were not playing Little League teams. Were trying. Its too long of a season. At some point youre going to struggle. Every team struggles at some point. "As a fan, if youre going to be with us when were doing good, we really need the fans when were struggling too." Martinez had three hits, and Nick Castellanos homered and tripled to lead the Tigers to an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. Detroit rallied from a 4-1 deficit and snapped a four-game losing streak, but the Tigers remained a half-game behind first-place Kansas City. The Tigers are suddenly facing adversity amid mounting injuries. They had to send Buck Farmer to the mound to make his major league debut, and he allowed four runs in five innings. Blaine Hardy (2-1) followed with two scoreless innings of relief, lowering his ERA to 2.05. Hes been a rare bright spot in a bullpen thats been unreliable. "Hes done an excellent job, really," manager Brad Ausmus said. "Hes not strictly a lefty-lefty guy. Hes got the ability to get right-handed hitters out, which gives me a lot of flexibility in the middle innings." Castellanos put Detroit ahead 5-4 with a solo homer off Vance Worley (5-2) in the sixth. Martinez added a bases-loaded single in the seventh. The Tigers returned home after going 2-7 on a road trip against the New York Yankees, Toronto and Pittsburgh. A 19-inning loss to the Blue Jays stretched the pitching staff thin, and Anibal Sanchez and Justin Verlander are nursing injuries. The game was tied at 1 in the fourth when Pittsburghs Jordy Mercer hit an RBI triple and Travis Snider followed with a two-run homer. The Tigers tied it with three runs in the fifth. Alex Avila led off with a homer to make it 4-2, and after a single by Eugenio Suarez, Ezequiel Carrera hit a grounder to second. Jayson Nix tried to make a tough throw to second to get the lead runner, but his throw was poor, and the error helped Detroit to a big inning. Miguel Cabrera eventually hit a sacrifice fly, and Martinez tied it with a two-out RBI single. Castellanos hit his ninth homer of the year with one out in the sixth. "I think the pitches that hurt were the home runs," Worley said. "Couple of guys who I got behind -- had to throw good pitches." Worley allowed five runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. TOUGH SPOT: Farmer has spent most of this season at Class A West Michigan, and he was called up from Double-A Erie to make this start for the Tigers. He made it through the order the first time without allowing a hit, but the Pirates scored a run in the third and three in the fourth. He allowed six hits and a walk and struck out four, and the Tigers were able to rally after he left the game. OUTFIELD PROBLEMS: Pittsburgh centre fielder Starling Marte made a diving attempt on Castellanos hit in the second, and the ball got past him for a triple. Right fielder Gregory Polanco couldnt handle Torii Hunters double in the fourth, and Polancos long run to right-centre in the seventh was for naught when he was unable to make the catch on Carreras drive, which went for a triple. FOR THE BIRDS: Worley and Cabrera both seemed distracted by two birds that settled in between the mound and the plate while Cabrera was batting in the first. Cabrera stepped out and waved his bat at them, then Worley rolled a ball to the plate, trying to shoo them away. TRAINERS ROOM Pirates: Pittsburgh was once again without 2B Neil Walker, who has been limited to only three games this month. Walker has been bothered by a bad back. Tigers: Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler stayed in the game and seemed to be OK after a pitch by Stolmy Pimentel bounced weirdly and hit him in the side of the head. Pimentels pitch in the seventh inning was in the dirt, then bounced up off C Russell Martin and hit Kinsler. UP NEXT Pirates: Francisco Liriano (3- Cool

takes the mound for Pittsburgh on Thursday against Detroit. Hes posted a 2.25 ERA in five starts since returning from a left oblique strain. Tigers: Max Scherzer (13-4) pitches for the first time since striking out 11 in eight innings against Toronto on Saturday -- in a game Detroit went on to lose in 10. Dru Samia Youth Jersey . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . The club says Fridays surgery was successful. Holiday, a former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia last summer, has not played because of the shin injury since Jan. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Adam-Thielen-Vikings-Jersey/ .Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to be leaning the fiscally responsible way.Let me put it like this: Its going to be a challenge, Jones said of re-signing both of Dallas biggest potential free agents. Randy Moss Womens Jersey . He made the comment at a media availability Saturday prior to Game 2 of the Boston-Montreal playoff series when a Quebec reporter said there is sentiment in Quebec that the NHL looks more favourably on Seattle than Quebec City when it comes to future expansion. Kirk Cousins Womens Jersey . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match.KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Down to 10 men and behind on the scoreboard, Toronto FC displayed its perseverance. Striker Luke Moores 67th-minute goal erased a 1-0 deficit and defender Bradley Orrs 91st-minute header provided the final equalizer as Toronto salvaged a 2-2 draw on the road against Sporting Kansas City, the reigning Major League Soccer champions. "Youve got to show character in games like this," said striker Jermain Defoe, who transferred to Toronto FC from Tottenham Hotspur during the off-season. "Away from home, its always going to be difficult. But to go down to 10 men a its a show of character to come back on the road and get a point." Already trailing by a goal, Toronto FCs comeback hopes appeared to suffer a severe blow in the 63rd minute when defender Steven Caldwell was sent off for a serious foul after cleating Sporting KC midfielder Toni Dovale in the right groin with a flying challenge. Instead, less than five minutes after the serious foul sent Caldwell to the showers early, Toronto FC (4-4-1) rallied and then did so again after falling behind on Dom Dwyers 84th-minute penalty kick. "The guys had to climb a bit of a mountain, and they did that," said Toronto FC manager Ryan Nelsen. "What I loved about this, I sat here about a year ago in this same situation when we went down to 10 men and folded like a wet paper bag, to tell you the truth. It was three (goals) going on eight, but we looked very solid today and we got -- through character and determination and battling through all the variables that were thrown against the guys -- what I think was a well-deserved draw." Sporting KC (5-4-3) controlled nearly 68 per cent of the possession and outshot TFC 17-7, but both teams settled for a single point after Orr headed home a chipped volley by fellow defender Nick Hagglund in the dying minutes. "We didnt play very well, but we were solid," Nelsen saidd.dddddddddddd He did take exception to referee Baldomero Toledo sending off Caldwell for spiking midfielder Toni Dovale in the right groin on a flying challenge. "I didnt think I went in with any malicious attempt or excessive force," Caldwell said. "I won the ball clearly and felt he came into me. It always looks worse than what it was. I go, I see the ball and try and win it. I did win it and I felt it was very unfortunate and extremely disappointed to have let the team down and be sent off." Still, Toronto FC persevered. Defoe set the game-tying goal in motion by charging directly down the guts of the field after a midfield turnover by Sporting KC. Splitting three defenders, Defoe slipped a ball forward into the box for Moore, who wheeled around for a one-time left-footed drive that beat Sporting KC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. Toronto FC went down a goal again in the 84th minute when Dwyer scored his MLS-leading 10th goal on a penalty kick. Toronto FC defender Doneil Henry knocked Sporting KC right back Igor Juliao to the ground in the box, conceding his fourth penalty kick of the season. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik -- who finished with three saves, including a critical pair on second-half rockets by Sporting KC midfielder Paulo Nagamura -- guessed correctly and dove right, but Dwyers drive was too strong. Toronto FC wasnt finished, however. "We never gave up, even when we got the penalty," said Defoe, who notched his first MLS assist on Moores goal. "We kept our heads. Its a difficult place to come. They are a good team. They pass the ball, they keep the ball, have good movement and are really athletic. I think tonight was all about character. "On a different day, maybe we would have gotten a little luck and won it at the end. But I think to show character and to come back was special. There are a lot of positives we can take out of the game tonight." ' ' '